I'm "offline" thanks to a torn meniscus, but every dark cloud has a silver lining, and as a result of this it's giving me time to sit down and learn my new IC-R8600. I'd rather be up and running around as usual, but I'll make lemonade where I can when lemons are introduced into life. 
Initial observations:
1. As everyone else has mentioned, audio sounds outstanding. P25 audio is superb. Jury is still out on NXDN audio. I haven't tried DStar as I honestly have zero interest in listening to it, and the other two modes are nonexistent here.
2. Excellent sensitivity, pulls out some weak signals as it should. I have it connected to a Comet GP-15 at the top of my tower, fed via a Digital Loggers multicoupler right now.
3. Firmware update was easy. This one arrived with 1.20 on board, but the process is quite painless and was done in no time. There are detailed instructions in the manual.
4. The radio is easy to operate although there is a LOT to learn about it. Navigating the menus is a simple task; the system is very intuitive.
5. I love the spectrum scope and the ease of changing the span width. One thing that got me the first few times was changing from center mode to fixed width mode, and then changing bands. When it's in the latter mode the scope reads "out of range" until you press the CENT/FIX button.
6. I've conducted a lot of operations thus far without referring to the manual but #5's screw-up is a good reason to have it handy!
7. Once I flashed to firmware 1.30, setting up for using HDSDR was a breeze. The instructions are clear and specific; I had it running in about 5 minutes. I agree with Eric Cottrell that it's kinda like having a pretty expensive dongle, but it does work well if you care to take that route. I can also of course use it to send audio via Virtual Audio Cable to DSD+ and thus recover DMR mode. I wish HDSDR had dual sound outputs though; if I'm viewing a band that has mixed analog and digital signals I have to manually switch the soundcard output. I know, whaaaa whaaa, but still....pretty neat option overall.
8. My brief visit to HF involved stopping at 11175 where I almost immediately heard some USAF activity. It sounded fantastic. I'll visit that area of the spectrum more as time permits. I'm using a Wellbrook Magnetic Loop for HF due to lots of noise in my tight neighborhood.
9. I have not really even scratched the surface of this receiver's operation but I must say I like it overall thus far, except for...
Gripes:
1. Well #1 is the same one that just about everyone else has. NO DMR. Fix this, Icom. Good God what a terrible omission. For the price paid for this I should not have to rely on #7 above to recover DMR audio. I could not give a crap less about DStar, DCR (non-existent), or dPMR. Nice to have NXDN and that's appreciated, but no DMR is as glaring an omission as I've ever seen. Of course I went into this fully knowing that was the case, so I'll hold out hope that it'll be added at some point or live with #7. I also read in a Facebook post about one user that was sending the 12 KHz IF output of his receiver to SDR# with that software tuned to 12 KHz, and then sending the audio to DSD+. In that manner he could leave the software running in the background and when he found a DMR signal that would do the trick. I haven't tried it yet but plan to.
All of this said though? ADD DMR, Icom! Please.
2. I'm disappointed in the CTCSS and DCS decoding setup. If a $200 scanner can provide fast decode of these subaudible tones, why can't a $2500 receiver? Short of some patent that prohibits Icom from doing so this is to me more idiotic than not being able to decode DMR. Being able to quickly see CTCSS and DCS tones is of course a huge help to identifying unknown signals when searching, which is something I love to do expecially when Tropo DX is in.
3. I'd love to see some "auto" mode functioning added. In other words if I land on a P25 system, having the radio identify it and decode automatically would be dandy. Unless I'm missing something this option does not exist. I'm still in the very early stages and could quite easily overlook the obvious with this or any of my comments!
4. I'm sure I'll have more gripes but I understand that no radio will ever be perfect and that my interpretation of "perfect" is different than other users. We are lucky to be in an age where firmware updates can address shortcomings, and I hope Icom will consider some of the gripes put forth by said users going forward.
Miscellaneous Comments:
1. Screen protectors. I found some on Amazon that are for the IC-R7300. I believe they will work with this radio as well. Has anyone tried these or does anyone have other suggestions. Also interested in ease of applying. My big dumb hands hold a beer well but sometimes can come up short with intricate operations regardless of my current patience level! Here's the link to the ones I found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lexerd-IC-7300-TrueVue-Anti-glare-Protector/dp/B01FPRX2DY
2. I have not connected this receiver to an earth ground. This has historically not been an issue for me, but when warmer weather comes I may give it a whirl. My shack is in the basement adjacent to an outside wall so it would not be a difficult matter to do so.
3. I am running straight to an Astron RM-35A power supply that takes care of just about all receivers/scanners in the shack. The fewer switching power supplies the better.
4. My receiver is on a rack mounted shelf with plenty of clearance on either side of it, and about 3 inches clearance above. After being on for about 4 hours it is "warmish" but not anything to be concerned about.
5. I am not a big fan of the HDSDR interface. My favorite software of that nature for VHF and above use is SDR#, but I highly doubt that will afford the use of this receiver. Simon Brown may work on an interface for SDR Console and that would be welcome.
6. I am considering the RS-R8600 remote control software but it appears from reading that it has some glaring omissions as well, such as no full screen mode, has no interface with the programming software (I'll opt for RT Systems when there's is ready anyway), and is almost prohibitively expensive.
Phew, that's long enough for starters. I am looking forward to learning more about this receiver and to possible improvements as time passes. I also look forward to any comments from fellow users. Thanks.
Initial observations:
1. As everyone else has mentioned, audio sounds outstanding. P25 audio is superb. Jury is still out on NXDN audio. I haven't tried DStar as I honestly have zero interest in listening to it, and the other two modes are nonexistent here.
2. Excellent sensitivity, pulls out some weak signals as it should. I have it connected to a Comet GP-15 at the top of my tower, fed via a Digital Loggers multicoupler right now.
3. Firmware update was easy. This one arrived with 1.20 on board, but the process is quite painless and was done in no time. There are detailed instructions in the manual.
4. The radio is easy to operate although there is a LOT to learn about it. Navigating the menus is a simple task; the system is very intuitive.
5. I love the spectrum scope and the ease of changing the span width. One thing that got me the first few times was changing from center mode to fixed width mode, and then changing bands. When it's in the latter mode the scope reads "out of range" until you press the CENT/FIX button.
6. I've conducted a lot of operations thus far without referring to the manual but #5's screw-up is a good reason to have it handy!
7. Once I flashed to firmware 1.30, setting up for using HDSDR was a breeze. The instructions are clear and specific; I had it running in about 5 minutes. I agree with Eric Cottrell that it's kinda like having a pretty expensive dongle, but it does work well if you care to take that route. I can also of course use it to send audio via Virtual Audio Cable to DSD+ and thus recover DMR mode. I wish HDSDR had dual sound outputs though; if I'm viewing a band that has mixed analog and digital signals I have to manually switch the soundcard output. I know, whaaaa whaaa, but still....pretty neat option overall.
8. My brief visit to HF involved stopping at 11175 where I almost immediately heard some USAF activity. It sounded fantastic. I'll visit that area of the spectrum more as time permits. I'm using a Wellbrook Magnetic Loop for HF due to lots of noise in my tight neighborhood.
9. I have not really even scratched the surface of this receiver's operation but I must say I like it overall thus far, except for...
Gripes:
1. Well #1 is the same one that just about everyone else has. NO DMR. Fix this, Icom. Good God what a terrible omission. For the price paid for this I should not have to rely on #7 above to recover DMR audio. I could not give a crap less about DStar, DCR (non-existent), or dPMR. Nice to have NXDN and that's appreciated, but no DMR is as glaring an omission as I've ever seen. Of course I went into this fully knowing that was the case, so I'll hold out hope that it'll be added at some point or live with #7. I also read in a Facebook post about one user that was sending the 12 KHz IF output of his receiver to SDR# with that software tuned to 12 KHz, and then sending the audio to DSD+. In that manner he could leave the software running in the background and when he found a DMR signal that would do the trick. I haven't tried it yet but plan to.
All of this said though? ADD DMR, Icom! Please.
2. I'm disappointed in the CTCSS and DCS decoding setup. If a $200 scanner can provide fast decode of these subaudible tones, why can't a $2500 receiver? Short of some patent that prohibits Icom from doing so this is to me more idiotic than not being able to decode DMR. Being able to quickly see CTCSS and DCS tones is of course a huge help to identifying unknown signals when searching, which is something I love to do expecially when Tropo DX is in.
3. I'd love to see some "auto" mode functioning added. In other words if I land on a P25 system, having the radio identify it and decode automatically would be dandy. Unless I'm missing something this option does not exist. I'm still in the very early stages and could quite easily overlook the obvious with this or any of my comments!
4. I'm sure I'll have more gripes but I understand that no radio will ever be perfect and that my interpretation of "perfect" is different than other users. We are lucky to be in an age where firmware updates can address shortcomings, and I hope Icom will consider some of the gripes put forth by said users going forward.
Miscellaneous Comments:
1. Screen protectors. I found some on Amazon that are for the IC-R7300. I believe they will work with this radio as well. Has anyone tried these or does anyone have other suggestions. Also interested in ease of applying. My big dumb hands hold a beer well but sometimes can come up short with intricate operations regardless of my current patience level!
Here's the link to the ones I found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Lexerd-IC-7300-TrueVue-Anti-glare-Protector/dp/B01FPRX2DY2. I have not connected this receiver to an earth ground. This has historically not been an issue for me, but when warmer weather comes I may give it a whirl. My shack is in the basement adjacent to an outside wall so it would not be a difficult matter to do so.
3. I am running straight to an Astron RM-35A power supply that takes care of just about all receivers/scanners in the shack. The fewer switching power supplies the better.
4. My receiver is on a rack mounted shelf with plenty of clearance on either side of it, and about 3 inches clearance above. After being on for about 4 hours it is "warmish" but not anything to be concerned about.
5. I am not a big fan of the HDSDR interface. My favorite software of that nature for VHF and above use is SDR#, but I highly doubt that will afford the use of this receiver. Simon Brown may work on an interface for SDR Console and that would be welcome.
6. I am considering the RS-R8600 remote control software but it appears from reading that it has some glaring omissions as well, such as no full screen mode, has no interface with the programming software (I'll opt for RT Systems when there's is ready anyway), and is almost prohibitively expensive.
Phew, that's long enough for starters. I am looking forward to learning more about this receiver and to possible improvements as time passes. I also look forward to any comments from fellow users. Thanks.
